Training Log Archive: ernst

Event: "O" in the Pines A meet
 

O in the Pines, Middle Distance Event. Green Course. 3.4 km str. line distance. Very rocky terrain. Had to get a feel for the map from 1 - 5. Quickly got annoyed jumping over rocks, so opted for trails and deviated from the straight line quite a bit. This may have cost me some time relative to the winning time of the particular legs, but the fact that many rivals on the course made serious mistakes, it was more prudent to play it safe at the beginning.
Lost 1 min on 5, simply was confused. Expected a bunch of rockpiles and could not see any - I had drifted too far South. Eventually saw control while looking back. Slow going to 6 and came in to 50 m N to marsh. Serious mistake to 7 (2.5 minutes): while contouring around the hill, saw a control 70m down the hill on boulder and sprinted to it - wrong code. Then realized what I did, and had to climb back up 3 contours over rocks - running impossible. Since Tim P started 2 minutes behind me I anxiously looked up the hill expecting him dashing down to the control in front of me. But no Tim in site which must have given be some positive energy. Pretty much spiked the rest of the controls and had plenty energy hopping over the rocks.

Saturday - Middle Green - Splits

Bike to work and back with loop by CSF fish pickup

Decided on a long run since the previous day's run had stopped. Too my surprise the woods were completely dry - the 3 inches that came down violently (had puddles in the basement) had already soaked in. Fall colors all of a sudden - nice surprise.
First mile warm up over to Foggs - monthly mortgage ceremonial. Then 2nd mile easy with o.d. Jena around Spruce Hole, then back out for the real thing.
Alternated my pace in intervals of roughly 1 mile: near race then relaxed, etc.
Stopped to briefly chat with 2 workers who erected in the middle of the woods a low wood frame for a plastic green-house like roof of about 60m by 50m. My initial sighting prompted shock: What the hell? Turns out the construction was a research project to simulate a drought. Ha, we just had a 3 month drought.

Monthly Dover Contra Dance. Dancing time around 1 hour. Fun meeting several of the "old timers" whom we have not seen in a long while.

To and from work

Around Spruce Hole. Did various hill workouts as well as intervals of high leg-lifts.

To and from work

Jogaroo around Spruce Hole with od-Jena. Decided to do high leg lifts with minimal forward motion, so that J was able to keep up comfortably and also found enough time to do adequate sniffing out of the neighborhood.

Event: NEOC: Townsend State Forest
 

Red Course at Townsend. Nice course set by Dean S. Woods were lovely devoid of water. Took it slow today. Just wanted to have fun orienteering (has been a rarity for me lately). Too far NE on 4, but relocated correctly. Ran by 5 just S of it, then circled around, and stood 30 m from it - did not see the faded control, did another loop around, then saw it. Missed traverse to 7 by going too far. My usual mistake at Townsend. The 2.5 m contours are portraying a steepish hillside, so I forget to check my compass, trusting instead of the suggested direction. But then the terrain is rather vague. Anyway, ended up 150m NE of control near circular cliff. Again good relocating. I heard that 10 was misplaced, so I attacked carefully from indistinct trail N of it and landed right on it. I possibly missed a group of boulders due to poor visibility and thought it was correctly placed. Lost 1 min on route to 12 - went too far north on trail, then had to turn back. Hope to run faster and cleaner next weekend.

red - Splits